Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses that add time, cause, condition, purpose, or contrast to a main clause. This guide groups them by function and gives key examples.
Time
Time conjunctions situate an action relative to another with clauses that specify when something happens, whether simultaneously or sequentially.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| quand | when |
| lorsque | when |
| dès que | as soon as |
| aussitôt que | as soon as |
| pendant que | while |
| tant que | as long as |
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Cause
Cause conjunctions introduce reasons or explanations for an action, linking effects to their underlying grounds.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| parce que | because |
| puisque | since |
| car | for / because |
| comme | as / since |
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Condition
Condition conjunctions set requirements or hypothetical circumstances that determine whether an action occurs, often used in if-clauses and similar structures.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| si | if |
| à condition que | provided that |
| pourvu que | provided that / as long as |
| au cas où | in case |
| en supposant que | assuming that |
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Purpose
Purpose conjunctions express intent or goal, introducing clauses that explain why something is done or what it aims to achieve.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| pour que | so that / in order that |
| afin que | so that / in order that |
| de peur que | for fear that |
| de sorte que | so that |
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Concession
Concession conjunctions acknowledge obstacles, contrasts, or unexpected conditions while allowing the main action to stand, often introducing clauses that qualify or diminish a point.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| bien que | although |
| quoique | although |
| même si | even if |
| quand bien même | even if / even though |
| malgré que | despite (that) |
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Summary
Subordinating conjunctions link dependent clauses that add nuance of time, cause, condition, purpose, or concession. Choosing the right conjunction shapes how the relationship between ideas is understood.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025